1874 – Gilbert Jessop was born (d. 1955). English cricketer, known as fastest-scoring batsman of all time.

1876 – Júlio Dantas was born in Lagos, Portugal (m. 25 May 1962). Portuguese writer. Leading member of the Nationalist Party, he was at the forefront of attempts to create a right wing republican coalition with Cunha Leal which would support the military regime. Doctor of Medicine. Vice-President and formerly president of the Lisbon Academy of Science. Director and professor of the National Conservatoire. Inspector of Libraries. A poet, publicist and dramatist of distinction. Is a man of great literary talent and has considerable influence over the National Theatre. One of his plays, called “The Cardinal’s Supper,” is said to have been translated into 40 languages. He was Minister of Instruction on two separate occasions in 1920, and Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1921 and 1923. Elected member of the Intellectual Committee of the League of Nations in January 1934, and President of the Lisbon Academy of Science for the eleventh time in December 1935 / Nasce Júlio Dantas em Lagos. Poeta, dramaturgo, cronista, jornalista, conferencista, médico, deputado, militar, ministro, glória das instituições, da política, da literatura, do teatro, da sociedade da época, acadêmico de dezenas de academias. Em Portugal e no Brasil, ficou mais conhecido por seu teatro voltado para o amor elegante e o heroísmo aristocrático. A meio caminho entre o romantismo e o parnasianismo, seus poemas foram enfeixados em Nada (1896) e Sonetos (1916). O interesse pelo amor elegante levou-o a estudos como O Amor em Portugal no Século XVIII (1915). A procura do passado heróico rendeu Pátria Portuguesa (1914) e Marcha Triunfal (1954). Foi na dramaturgia, porém, que alcançou grande sucesso: em A Severa (1901) foi baseado o primeiro filme português sonoro, de Leitão de Barros, e A Ceia dos Cardeais, escrita em 1902, tem longa história nos palcos. Escreveu ainda Paços de Veiros (1903) e O Reposteiro Verde (1912). Morreu em Lisboa, em 25 de maio de 1962.

1906 – The Simplon Tunnel was officially opened as the world’s longest railroad tunnel. Cutting through the Alps between Italy and Switzerland, it was officially opened by the King of Italy and the president of the Swiss Republic.

1935 – T. E. Lawrence (“Lawrence of Arabia”) dies (b. 15 Aug 1888). British archaeological scholar, which activity he pursued assiduously from his teens up to the outbreak of WW I. Later he became best known as a military strategist, and author for his legendary war activities in the Middle East during WW I, and for his account of those activities in “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom” (1926).

1998 – In Fayetteville, Tennessee, three days before graduation, 18-year-old honor student Jacob Davis allegedly confronts, then shoots dead 18-year-old Nick Creson in the parking lot of his school. This is the latest in a rash of so-called school massacres which took place in the United States during the 1990s.